Theatre company prepping monologues

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This article was published 09/03/2011 (5345 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An evening of dramatic monologues addressing issues such as violence against women, drug addiction and chastity is coming at just the right time for Winnipeggers, artists involved say.

Sarasvati Productions, a theatre company based in the North End, will be its International Women’s Week Cabaret on March 12 at Prairie Theatre Exchange. Nine performers will showcase 10 monologues, written by playwrights from across Canada, including Winnipeg theatre vet and River Heights resident Cairn Moore.

Moore said the individual monologues not only raise important questions but that theatre in general often reflects reality on stage, referencing recent statements made by Manitoba Judge Robert Dewar during sentencing of a convicted rapist Kenneth Rhodes.

“Theatre allows us to look at all kinds of issues – including things like ‘No means no’,” she said.

Moore’s monologue, Hail Mary, examines a confession by a teen and is an examination of what many young women consider as acceptable sexual behaviour. Moore’s piece is based on reality, about a character working on keeping a promise of abstinence.

“Over the course of not having intercourse, she is doing everything but. Of course she can still get STDs and have other problems,” Moore said.

“Teens still have abstinence promise rings but often have little education about anything else – they think they are fine because they are not having sex, which is ridiculous.”

Inkster area resident Stephanie Sy, the actress cast in Hail Mary, agrees.  

“It is a pretty common and familiar view on virginity,” she said. Sy will be doing double duty for Sarasvati this weekend, having also been cast in the monologue,Miss Orient(ed).

Sy said while her two characters are written in vastly different styles by unrelated writers, there are common threads.

“They are both just women trying to fit in, both a bit insecure and wonder if they are doing things right.”

According to Hope McIntyre, Sarasvati’s artistic director, the company’s monologue event is designed to bring women’s voices and stories to the stage and to introduce theatre to new audiences.

In addition to public performances, a selection of monologues will be performed for Sage House, an organization providing help for street-involved women and the transgendered.

“We want to bring the work to those who may not feel comfortable in a theatre and this event has been a wonderful experience every time we have done it,” she said.

The International Women’s Week Cabaret of Monologues runs this Sat., March 12 at Prairie Theatre Exchange, in Portage Place, with 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances.

For more information see www.sarasvati.ca

rob.brown@canstarnews.com